A Night in Jail with Peter

 

LIMAVADY INDEPENDENT METHODIST CHURCH

SERMON NOTES FROM SUNDAY 11 APRIL 2010

ACTS 12 VERSES 1 – 11

A NIGHT IN JAIL WITH PETER

This was the time of the Jewish Passover, a time commemorating the children of Israel coming out of Egypt. They were in bondage, enslaved by Egyptian Pharaoh.  God would deliver them from Egypt.  The plagues were sent on Egypt but Pharaoh would not let them go.  The last plague was when the lamb was killed and the blood of the lamb was painted on the door posts and lintels.  Everyone behind the lamb’s blood was passed over.  The children of Israel were looking back to the night in Egypt but looking forward to the cross of Christ, the Son of God sent into the world, sent to be the lamb of God to take away the sin of the world.  He was put to death for the sins of the world.  When the blood of Jesus is applied to our lives we are safe from judgment still to come.  The judgment has passed. The Lord has taken it on himself.  He died to atone for our sins.

The position that had arisen.  The church was under attack.  It began under the rule of Herod.  The devil would use him to attack the church.  He had already arrested James, a pillar in the church of Christ.  The bible says Herod put him to death by the sword.  He was beheaded. Herod was a very egotistical man, thought highly of himself.  He loved the power and control he had.  He was only content when men looked up to him and praised him.  Verse 3 “and because he (Herod) saw that it pleased the Jews.”  Everything he did was to glorify himself.  When he saw how well it pleased the religious leaders on that particular occasion he thought if he arrested Peter he would climb that ladder even higher.  Satan would use Herod to come against the church.  Satan hasn’t changed his tactics today.  Herod then sent out the soldiers to arrest Peter.  The devil was trying to suppress the church of Christ.  We are not ignorant of his devices.  Paul said writing to the church of Ephesus “we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities.” Here was Peter in the prison house.  Sometimes the devil uses people against us to bring discouragement, to dishearten you.  It may be someone you are looking at but behind the scenes it is the devil himself.  Maybe your family member.  He or she doesn’t mean any harm but they are discouraging you today.  The devil is trying to use them to bring the people down.  We wrestle not against flesh and blood today.  The devil uses the tactics to change them.  Acts 4 verse 5 Peter was arrested.  The apostles were beaten.  Warned not to preach in that name.  In Acts 6 there were murmurings against the church.  People felt the money had not been spent correctly and others were missing out.  In chapter 7 we read of the arrest of Stephen.

The prominence Peter had.  After James’ death Peter was next on the list.  The devil was changing tactics again.  When Herod saw it pleased the Jews he decided to arrest Peter.  What does the devil think of you and your testimony today?  Think of Stephen in Acts 6 verse 8 – here was a man full of faith and a powerful man who did many wonders and miracles in the midst of the people.  He bore a testimony.  He stood for God.  Will the devil seek to bring you down?  John was banished to the island of Patmos, there because he preached the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.  He was arrested for his preaching, for the stance he took.  Peter was a fisherman accused of turning the world upside down.  The devil had him in his sights.  In his target.  He was accused of filling Jerusalem with the doctrine of God.  What a testimony he bore.  Is it any wonder the devil wanted him brought down?  On the day of Pentecost he was the one who preached.  People looking on said everyone was drunk but Peter stood up to their defence.  I am sure the devil took stock of it all.  Are we standing up for the word of God today?  To the saving grace of God in these days?  As we take our stand for God in the home and among our neighbours, in the church?  1 Peter 4 verse 16 “if ye suffer as a Christian let him not be ashamed but let him glorify God on his behalf.”

The privilege Peter had.  He had been arrested out of the streets of Jerusalem.  He lost his liberty and freedom.  It is hard to imagine what privileges he might had had as he was guarded around the clock.  Notice verse 5 “but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.”  He had a praying body behind him.  They were ready to devote their lives to God.  Peter had a people who would take him to their hearts, bring it before the God of heaven to pray for him, to seek God on his behalf.  Peter was kept in prison but prayer was made for him.  A group of people saw the predicament, felt the pain, could do nothing but pray.  For each of us there is no greater thing that we can do for anyone but get on our knees and pray, to seek God for a miracle in individual lives.  C H Spurgeon called prayer the heating system of the church.  These people “prayed without ceasing” night and day.  It was their one priority.  Romans 1 verse 9 “without ceasing I make mention of you in my prayers.”  Philippians 1 verse 4 “always and in every prayer of mine making mention of you in joy.”  Paul in Ephesians urged the believers to pray for one another and for him also.  Paul knew he needed prayer support.  Be sure you pray for on another in this battle – “that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel.”